CORYPHIN^E
none of these bear root-hairs. At a later state numerous lateral
roots are developed which are smaller than the primary root.
The first leaf is reduced to a sheath. Finally the cotyledonal
petiole and sheath begin to wither and decay. (Fig. 14.)

fig.  14.—Successive stages in the germination of Corypha uinbraeuliferu.
c.j3.==cotyledonal petiole.	p. r.=primary root.
c. s.^r-cotyledonal sheath.	I 1, and I 2. —first and second leaf.
uses.—The leaves are extensively used by the lower classes
of Singalese as umbrellas. They are extremely well adapted
for that purpose, one outspread leaf affording sufficient shelter
for seven or eight persons. Umbrellas made of the leaves are
largely exported from Kanara. Some of the sacred records of
the Singalese are written on pieces of the blade of these leaves
with either a brass or iron style. It has been asserted by
various authors that such records have resisted, for ages the
ravages of time, by others it has been denied. Under the native
government of Ceylon each person was allowed, according to
the social station he occupied, to have a certain number of the
gigantic leaves of the Talipot, folded up in the form of fans,
borne before him.
In Ceylon they beat the pith of the stem in mortars to flour,
and bake cakes of it which taste mudh like white bread; it serves
them instead of corn before their harvest is ripe. The seeds are
nearly as hard as ivory and are extensively employed in the
manufacture of beads, or are coloured and sold as coral, or even